MIA Awards 2015: MusicRadar Acoustic Guitar of the Year award

10 of the year's best acoustics

Shares

Cort kick off the shortlist with their gig-ready plug-and-player.

Cort SFX-CED-NS

On 12 November, members of the UK's Music Industries Association and other assorted luminaries will convene at the Hilton London Metropole hotel for the annual MIA Awards ceremony, at which the very finest new gear releases of the past year will be celebrated.

Ahead of the awards on 12 November, we asked you to help us narrow our longlist for the MusicRadar Acoustic Guitar of the Year Award down to 10 final instruments.

The winner will be announced at the ceremony, but for now we can reveal, in alphabetical order, your shortlist. Let's start with the Cort SFX-CED-NS.

They say

"This gig-ready acoustic has Fishman electronics, making it ready to plug in and play. The solid Cedar top gives it a sound that is big, rich and boomy. The SFX-CED is comfortable to play thanks to its all-access cutaway body design and the V-contour neck profile. This guitar is ready to gig when you are."

PrevPage 1 of 10Next PrevPage 1 of 10Next

Modern yet subtly unusual acoustic

Faith Signature FSGNHSY Honeyed Sycamore

Our verdict

"Subtly innovative, it certainly lives up to PJE's reputation for dependable and quality instrument making."

Takamine GN20CE

They say

"For players looking for a different sound, the GN20CE-NS pairs a solid cedar top with mahogany back and sides to produce a warm, detailed tone that works beautifully for a wide range of musical styles."

Taylor 2015 618e

Our verdict

"Simply a storming guitar; a preconception-changing, powerhouse jumbo that you can strum or pick with confidence. It's every bit a modern classic and demands an audition, even if it's only to say that you've played one."

Taylor 612CE 12-fret

They say

"Our 12-fret Grand Concerts feature a shifted neck-to-body relationship, shifting the bridge location in a way that adds robust punch to the midrange notes. Together with the revoiced design details of the 600 Series, players are in for a treat."

Vintage Viator VTR8000PB-USB

They Say

"The VTR800PB-USB combines the great tone and playability of its predecessor with the addition of an onboard Fishman® Sonitone USB pickup system.

Finished in beautiful natural antique and built from top quality tone woods such as Sitka Spruce and Sapele, the Viator also features high quality hardware including GraphTech® Nu-Bone® nut and Tusq® saddle, and Grover® open-gear machine heads.

The VTR800PB-USB is ideal for recording whilst on the move, bringing the past and the present together in one small, but very impressive, package."

Yamaha SLG200S Silent Guitar

Our verdict

"The ultimate practice tool? The new Silent Guitar is better than ever. And just smile when your mates are having feedback problems with their antiquated electros. The future's here... and it's Silent."